Ventilated spring-cushion for vehicles and furniture



(No Model.)

. E. R. SIBLEY 82; H. P. WELLS.

VENTILATED SPRING CUSHION FOR VEHIGLES AND FURNITURE.

No. 333,557. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.. 00' l g'gi. v i

@ K l 7 I 00 i 70 l i A\ R mm N. PETEBS. Pholouum n her. Wnshinglom u.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. RIPLEY SIBLEY AND HARLAN P. WELLS, OF SALISBURY, MA SSAOHUSETTS.

VENTILATED SPRING-CUSHlON FOR VEHICLES AND FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,557, dated January5, 1886.

Application filed January 16, 1885. Serial No. 153,056. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, E. RIPLEY SIBLEY and HARLAN P. \VELLs, ofSalisbury,in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Ventilated SpringOushions forVehicles and Furniture, which will, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined inthe appended claims.

This invention has for its object the production of a cushion forvehicles, furniture, and analogous uses, which shall be perfectly venti'lated, and while flexible and yielding, yet permanently retaining itsform and elasticity; and it will, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted or under side plan view of acarriage-seat cushion embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a front edgeelevation of the same, shown as in its normal position. Fig. 3 is acentral transverse vertical secti0n,taken as on line 00, Figs. 1 and 2,and as looking to the lefttherein, the parts beyond said line beingshown in elevation. Fig. 4 represents the cushion as in position for usein a carriage-seat. Fig. 5 is a detached plan view of one of thespringsupporting sockets. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through saidsockets taken as on offset line Z, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section,and viewed as from the left therein, and showing a modification in thespring-supporting irons. Fig. 8 is an under side plan view of one of theupper supports of the springs at the center of the frame. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal vertical section through the same. Fig. 10 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 8, but showing corner springsupport.

In said views, a a represent the side bars of the lower frame, theybeing united at their ends with end bars,b b, thus forming a rectangularlower frame. Two side bars,a a,somewhat longer than bars a, are at theirends united with end bars, I) b, thus forming a second or upperrectangular frame. Said bars a and b are at the respective corners ofthe lower frame secured together by means of flanges e ofthespring-sockets d, Fig. 5, which are inserted in slots or kerfs cut insaid bars,

as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and by rivets that secure the several partstogether. Said springsockets are formed with a circular vertical wall,having an internal flange, 9, inside which is a circular opening, f, forescape of water, whiclnwhen employed in open vehicles, might falltherein, the base of the volute springs jbeing, as shown, seated insidesaid circular wall and resting on said flange g, as shown in Figs. 3 and7. Said bars a and b are at the respective corners ofthe upper frame.

secured together by the flanges h of the top supports,p, of saidsprings,these flanges being inserted and secured in slots or kerfs cutin said bars, in the same manner as are flanges e, of sockets d, asabove described. Upon the under side of said spring-supports p is formeda feather, a, to enter the axial opening in the top end of springs j andsecure the same in position. When said spring-sockets d and stays p areemployed for springs, other than at the corners of the frame, thesecuring flange is formed straight-tl1at is, without an angleas shown ath, Fig. 8, as it is only secured to the side bar. The frames being thussecured at their respective angles, the volute springs j are seated insockets d of the lower frame, and the feathers t" of supports of theupper frame being seated in the axial passage in the springs, the twoframes are then in proper relation, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,3; and to sosecure them the stay-straps q, of leather, canvas, or other yieldingmaterial, are secured to the bars of the upper and lower frames, toslightly compress the springs, in order that when not in use the partsshall not be disconnected. When thus assembled, a strong canvascovering, it, tightly stretched, is secured at its edges to the bars a bof the upper frame, to cover the same, and over this may be laid theelastic filling Z, of curled hair or other material, which is covered bycloth or leather m, and if employed in a vehicle a front curtain, n, issecured to the upper bar, a, as shown. 1f the cushion be short, only thesprings at the corners will be requisite; but for carriage seats ofusual size a pair of intermediate springs, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, arenecessary, the size of the cushionv and strength ofthe springsdetermining the'nnmber of the latter which should be employed.

Instead of inserting the fianges eh of the spring-supports in the bars,as shown, the same may be arranged as shown in Fig. 7, where flange e isabove and flange it below the rails, yet without materially diminishingthe scope of vertical play of the springs.

To prevent drawing together of bars a by the action of canvas 70, whenweighted, a bar, 0, is secured to said bars, and between them it isdropped to allow yielding of the cushion without contact with said bar.

In said drawings we have shown our cushion as adapted to acarriage-seat; but it may be with equal facility adapted to all kinds ofupholstered furniture, and by reason of the unobstructed air-spacebetween the upper and lower frames it is cool, cleanly, and wellventilated.

\Ve are well aware of United States Letters Patent No. 179,257, datedJune 27, 1876, and

No. 94,179, dated August 31, 1869, and we claim nothing shown,described, or claimed therein, onrinvention differing therefrom in thatwhile said earlier patent has an upper and lower frame with connectingflexible stays and a cushion, yet its springs are of the class termedgrasshopper springs, while in the latter patent there are no verticalflexible stays, and the volute springs are steadied by rigid rods,whiclnwhen the springs are compressed, must project in thesame degreebeyond one or both of the frames.

' \Ve claim as ourinvention- 1. The combination of the upper and lowerframes, the spring-seating cup-like supports 02, secured to the lowerframe, the springsteadying plates 19, secured to the upper frame andformed with plate h and projection ii, to enter the top of the spring,the volute springs j, and flexible stays q, all substantially asspecified.

2. The combination of the upper and lower frames formed with bars a band a I), respectively, the spring base-sockets d, and supports 19,respectively secured to said frames, volute springs yielding stays q,covering 7c, and an overlying cushion, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the volute springs and supporting-frame, of themetallic spring basesupports formed with flange 6, adapted to securetogether the side and end bars of the frame, and with a verticalcircular rim to receive the base of the spring, abottom, g, to supportthe spring, and an opening, f, for the escape of water therefrom, allsubstantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the volute springs and frame, of springstay-plates 1), formed with wing h, to be secured to the bars of theframe, and with projection i,to enter the axial passage in the spring tosteady the same,sub stantially as specified.

E. RIPLEY SIBLEY. HARLAN P. WELLS. Witnesses:

GEO. W. GATE, EUGENE HUMPHREY.

